Cincinnati Nature Center, a partner in the national Monarch Joint Venture (MJV) collaboration, reports the latest estimated count for monarch butterflies currently overwintering in Mexico is up 69% from last year’s record low.

According to Bill Creasey, Chief Naturalist at Cincinnati Nature Center, “While the current estimated number of monarchs has increased over last year’s count, we must keep in mind it is still the second lowest population recorded since monarchs have been observed at their overwintering grounds.”

The future of the monarch remains in dire jeopardy as its population has suffered a staggering 97% decline in the last twenty years. The monarch’s current situation has warranted immediate review by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for possible placement on the agency’s Endangered Species watch list.

Right now, millions of monarch butterflies are overwintering in the transvolcanic range in Mexico, clustering onto oyamel fir trees situated in the mountains just north of Mexico City.

As spring approaches, these butterflies will begin to leave their overwintering sites and slowly, generation by generation, make their way back to the Midwest, including the Greater Cincinnati area. Along their way they will search for milkweed on which to lay their eggs.

With shifting land management practices, millions of acres of native milkweed have vanished from our landscape. Without milkweed the species cannot survive.

It will take two to three generations for the butterfly to find its way north, culminating in a ‘super generation’ butterfly at summer’s end, which will ultimately make its amazing migration back to Mexico in the fall.

In coming to the aid of the monarch Cincinnati Nature Center successfully launched its Milkweed to Monarchs initiative in October of 2014 with the intent of raising awareness of the fragile plight of the species and promoting the widespread planting of milkweed in Southwest Ohio and beyond.

Milkweed seed distribution will continue this spring with the Nature Center’s Great Milkweed Seed Give-Away celebrating Earth Day, April 22nd.

When Creasey last travelled to this area in Mexico in 2007 the monarch population density was six times greater than it is today. According to Creasey, “The monarch clusterings are an incredibly inspiring and spectacular sight to be seen. We simply cannot lose this species to extinction.

The continued need to support and advocate for this magnificent creature’s survival is incumbent upon us all.”